In the fourth episode of our Career Guidance Session podcast on November 29, 2024, from the Assam Tele Education studio, Assam, Shri Narayan Konwar, IAS Secretary, Department of Higher Education, Assam, shares his incredible journey of perseverance and success. His experiences navigating the challenging path to civil service success.
Shri Narayan Konwar’s journey is one of resilience and determination. Born in a remote village in Assam’s Morigaon district, he grew up in poverty. After his father’s untimely death, his mother became the sole breadwinner, working as a laborer and selling vegetables. Despite these hardships, Konwar remained committed to his education, ultimately overcoming significant challenges to succeed. Poverty was a major hurdle for Konwar, and he even failed his 12th-grade exams. Despite these setbacks, he continued supporting his mother while studying in his spare time. His determination eventually led him to complete his undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in Political Science from Gauhati University. Konwar’s turning point came when he pursued a civil services career. To fund his preparation, he taught at a local college before moving to New Delhi for coaching. In 2010, he cleared the Civil Services Examination with a rank of 119.
The challenges of the Civil service exam, with its vast syllabus and fierce competition, Time management is critical, as candidates must balance multiple subjects and extensive reading within limited time. With fierce competition and only a small percentage of candidates succeeding, excelling in the civil service exams demands perseverance, dedication, and careful planning can often seem daunting for many students.
However, as demonstrated by Shri Narayan Konwar’s journey, success in civil service exam is achievable through perseverance, determination, and strategic planning. His story highlights that regardless of one’s background, the right mindset and dedication can lead to success in the competitive exam. This session offers valuable insights and motivation for students, showing that hard work and resilience are key to overcoming obstacles and excelling in the UPSC exam.
